Cleat for athletic shoes



Dec. 31, 1935. J. P. KERIN 2,026,280

GLEAT FOR ATHLETIQJ SHOES 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1934 Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEAT FOR ATHLETIC SHOES John P. Kerin, Pepperell, Mass. Application January 18, 1934, Serial No. 707,118

9 Claims. (01. 36-59) M This invention relates to an improved cleat for an athletic shoe of the type used for football or It is an object of the similar outdoor games.

invention to provide a detachable cleat which is light in weight, rugged in structure, and which is provided with a tread element capable of removal and replacement, means also being provided to prevent the tread element from coming off even if it should become loosened. The invention also includes improved anchoring means for the tread elements.

For a more complete understanding'of the invention and the various additional advantageous features inherent therein, reference may be had tothe disclosure of certain embodiments thereof in the description which follows, and to the drawing of which Figure 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention attached to a shoe sole.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.

H Figure 4 is an elevation of the elements illustrated in Figure 3 the molded portion of the tread element being shown in section.

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional viewsof other embodiments ofthe invention..

work loose.

Detachable cleats heretofore known are for the most part threaded onto screws or bolts which are fastened to the shoe sole and which project downwardly therefrom. In order to avoid excessive weightinthe shoe, which is undesirable," the bolts have been made as small as possible, with the result that'they are liable to bebroken off by the severe stresses 'to which the cleats are subjected. Furthe'rmorethe tread elements of the cleats are liable to'work loose. Where these tread elements are screw-"threaded onto bolts anchored in the shoe; a cleat which works loose is apt to come off the bolt entirely, leaving the bolt unprotected. This is highly objectionabl'e as it exposes other players t possibility of severe injury,

the

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, I provide a bolt or stud III of suitable size, this bolt having a flat head ll preferably provided with radial fins or ribs I2 on its lower face to engage against the leather of the sole l3 when the bolt is fitted in the shoe. The anchoring means of the cleat also includes a sleeve 20 consisting of a central portion 2| from which project two end portions 22 and 23 of reduced diameter, these end portions each forming a shoulder with the central portion 2| of the sleeve. A thin disk 25 may be secured to the shoe sole l3 as by nails 26, this disk having a central aperture and one or more small projections 28 from the plane of the lower face thereof. The upper end portion 22 of the sleeve is adapted to project through the central aperture of the disk and to extend a substantial distance through the shoe sole IS. The sleeve 20 is formed with a central bore extendan ing therethrough from end to end. The shank of the bolt I0 is adapted to fit snugly in this bore, the bolt ill having a screw-threaded portion 30 projecting from the lower end of the sleeve so as to receive a nut 3! thereon. This 25 nut engages the lower end of the sleeve 20 and presses the sleeve upwardly into firm engagement with the disk 25. The upper shoulder of the central portion 2| of the sleeve is provided with a sufficient number of recesses 32 to receive the projections 28 on the disk. This prevents relative rotation between the sleeve and the disk. As the sleeve is, drawn upwardly against the disk 25 by the nut 3|, the head ll of the bolt I0 is likewise drawn downwardly into firm engagement with the inner face of the shoe sole 13 so that the sole is tightly clamped by the anchoring device and the ribs 12 dig into the sole to prevent rotation of the bolt ID. It is evident that the shank of the bolt in is materially reinforced by the sleeve 20 so that the anchoring means described is amply strong enough to withstand all of the stresses which come thereon when the shoe is in use. In order to avoid excessive weight, the sleeve 20 is preferably made of a light but strong metal such as a suitable alloy of aluminum, the bolt 10 being preferably made of steel. The lower end portion 23 of the sleeve is externally threaded to receive a tread element 40. This tread element, as shown, may comprise a metallic core member 4| having a knurled exterior surface against which is molded the body portion 42 of the tread element. This body portion may be variously shaped as desired, and is composed of rubber, fiber, or other 5 composition conforming to the rules of the athletic game for which the shoe is intended. The core 4| preferably includes a lower portion 45 of relatively small diameter, this portion being internally threaded for threaded engagement with the lower portion 23 of the sleeve 20. The core 4! also includes an upper portion 56 of larger diameter, this portion having an inward projection 4i adapted to enter successively a series of recesses 48 in the periphery of the central portion 2! of the sleeve. As indicated in Figure 2, the sleeve may be provided with a con.- siderable number of such recesses 48, these recesses consisting of longitudinal grooves in the peripheral surface of the central portion 21 of the sleeve. The projection il in the core of the tread element is also preferably elongated so that it engages the successive recesses 48 from the time that the tread element is started on its anchoring means to the time when it is set up tightly against the shoe sole. The projection 4'! yieldingly prevents rotation of the tread element on the anchoring means. This function is operative not only when the tread element is set up tightly against the shoe sole, but is also operative as long as the tread element is in threaded engagement with its anchoring means. Thus, in case the tread element should work loose so that there would be no frictional engagement between the element and the shoe sole to prevent further rotation of the element on its anchoring means, the projection 57 is effected to prevent free rotation of the tread member on its anchoring means.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a slightly different form of the invention, the tread element 4% being identical with that illustrated in Figure 1. The anchoring means illustrated in Figure 3 comprises an apertured disk 58 through which projects the upper end portion 5| of .a sleeve 52. The bore of the sleeve 52 is threaded for at least the lower portion thereof. As shown, the entire length of the bore is threaded. A bolt or stud 53' projects through this bore and is in threaded engagement therein, the bolt having a flat head 54 with radial fins 55. The lower end of the bolt 53 projects beyond the lower end of the sleeve 52 to receive a nut 3i which is adapted to be screwed tightly against the lower end of the sleeve 52 and thus to act as a lock nut, preventing relative rotation between the sleeve and the bolt. When the device is set up tightly on a shoe sole as indi ated in Figure 3, the sole itself prevents further rotation of the sleeve 52 toward the head 55 of the bolt 53, the lock nut 31 preventing rotation of the sleeve away from the head 56. The central portion of the sleeve 52 may be notched, as illustrated in Figure 2, to cooperate with the projection l! in the core of the tread element, in the manner hereinbefore described.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figure 5, the anchoring means shown therein comprising a thin disk 25 and a sleeve 69 with a reduced end portion 6i extending upwardly through the aperture in the disk 25 and for a substantial distance through the shoe sole IS. A bolt or stud G2 extends downwardly into the bore of the sleeve (it, the upper portion of this bore being provided with one or more longitudinal grooves 63 in which slide projections or ears 6-3 extending laterally from the bolt 62. These ears, riding in the grooves 63, prevent rela tive rotation between the sleeve 60 and the bolt 62. the latter being provided with fins 56 on its head to prevent rotation of the bolt, and hence of the sleeve, relative to the shoe sole. The bolt 62 is provided with a screw-threaded bore extending inwardly from the lower end thereof to receive a screw Ill. This screw has a head 7! adapted to seat against the lower end of the sleeve Gil, so that, when the screw 10 is screwed into the bore of the bolt 62, it draws the bolt downwardly and the sleeve upwardly so that the shoe sole is thus clamped between the shoulder of the sleeve .and the head of the bolt. The lower end of the sleeve is threaded to receive a tread element as, and the central portion of the sleeve 60 is notched as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 consists of a stud having a flat head 16 with fins TI. The stud is provided with a bore extending inwardly from the lower end thereof, and is interiorly and exteriorly screw-threaded to receive a sleeve 84] on the exterior thread and a screw 8! in the bore. The sleeve 86 has a reduced end portion 83 extending a substantial distance through the shoe sole l3 and surrounding the shank of the stud 15. When the sleeve is screwed onto the stud E5, the shoe sole I3 is clamped between the head 16 of the stud and the central portion of the sleeve 80. The screw 8| has a head 84 which bears against the lower end of the sleeve 80, so that, when the screw is set up tightly, it binds the interengaging screw threads of the stud l5 and sleeve 89 and thus acts as a look. In other respects the sleeve 80 may be constructed like the sleeve 20, hereinbefore described, so as to receive and hold a tread element.

It is evident that various further modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the cleat herein described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a cleat for an athletic shoe, anchoring means comprising a sleeve having a reduced portion .adapted to project a substantial distance through the sole of a shoe from the outer surface thereof, a stud adapted to project from the inside of the shoe through said sleeve, and means for securing the sleeve non-rotatably on said stud, said sleeve having a screw-threaded portion to receive a tread element.

2. In a cleat for .an athletic shoe, a sleeve having a central portion of substantial diameter and end portions of reduced diameter, one of said end portions being externally threaded to receive a tread element, the other end portion being adapted to project a substantial distance through a shoe sole, a stud adapted to project through said sleeve from the inside of the shoe, said stud having a head between which and the central portion of said sleeve the sole of said shoe may be clamped, and means, for locking said sleeve against rotation relative to said stud.

3. In a cleat for an athletic shoe, a sleeve having a reduced inner end portion adjusted to extend a substantial distance through a shoe sole, a stud projecting through said sleeve and in threaded engagement therewith, and a lock nut threaded onto the projecting end of said stud and bearing against the outer end of said sleeve.

4. In a cleat for .an athletic shoe, a sleeve having a reduced inner end portion adapted to project a substantial distance through the sole of a shoe, a stud extending through said sleeve, and a nut threaded on the end portion of the stud projecting from the outer end of said sleeve.

5. A cleat for an athletic shoe, comprising anchoring means extending through and detachably secured to a shoe sole, and a tread element in threaded engagement with said anchoring 7 means, said element and means including cooperating means yieldingly holding said element against rotation.

6. In an athletic shoe, a cleat comprising anchoring means detachably secured to the shoe sole, said means having a portion abutting the bottom of the sole and laterally notched and a reduced screw-threaded end portion, and a tread element in threaded engagement with said end portion, said element having an internal lug engaging successively in the notches in the anchoring means as the element is rotated thereon.

7. In a cleat for an athletic shoe, anchoring means comprising a thin disk with a central aperture and a projection from the bottom plane thereof, a sleeve having a central portion and reduced end portions forming shoulders therewith, the upper end portion projecting through said aperture so that the adjacent shoulder engages said disk, said adjacent shoulder having arecess therein to receive said projection on the. disk so as to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve and disk, a bolt extending downwardly through said sleeve so that the threaded end thereof projects from the lower end of the sleeve, said bolt having a flat head with radial fins on its under surface adapted to engage the sole of a shoe and to prevent rotation of the bolt relatively to the shoe, and a nut threaded on the projecting end of said bolt and engaging the lower end of said sleeve, the lower end portion of said sleeve being screw-threaded to receive a tread element, the central portion of said sleeve having longitudinal recesses on its periphery to cooperate with an inwardly projecting lug on the tread element as and for the purposes described.

8. In a cleat for an athletic shoe, a sleeve having a screw-threaded bore, a central portion with longitudinal notches in its periphery, and reduced end portions projecting from said central portion, the upper end portion being adapted to project a substantial distance through a shoe sole, the lower end portion being threaded to receive a tread element, a threaded bolt engaged in said bore and projecting from the lower end of the sleeve, said bolt having a fiat head at its upper end, and a nut screwed onto the projecting lower end portion of said bolt and adapted to jam against the lower end of said sleeve.

9. In a shoe cleat, anchoring means comprising a sleeve having a central portion and reduced end portions forming shoulders with the central portion, the upper end portion of the sleeve being adapted to project into the sole of a shoe, said sleeve having a longitudinal bore therethrough with longitudinal grooves in the upper portion of said bore, a bolt projecting into the upper end of said bore, said bolt having a fiat head with radial fins on the under surface thereof to engage the sole of the shoe to prevent rotation of the bolt, said bolt also having lateral projections riding in said grooves and a threaded bore extending inwardly from its lower end, and a screw having a head engaging the lower end of the sleeve and extending through the bore of the sleeve for threaded engagement in the bore of the bolt.

JOHN P. KERIN. 

